Electrical connector.



H. A. DOUGLAS. ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAYII, l9l5-Patented" May 8, 191 7.

mutton strains PATENT OFFICE.

EAUQIURKITG COMEANY, (9F BIKONSQQN, Ii3o.;IIGAN, A CORPORATION OFMICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented May 8, 1917..

Application filed'llay 11, 1915. Serial No. 27,456.

229 all wiwm it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS,

citizen of the United States, residing at Bronson, in the county ofBranch and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, referonce being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to circuit couplers or connectors, and has for oneof its objects the provision of such a device wherein two members aremade relatively movable longitudinally of the structure to bring thesemembers in either of two alternative relations, in one of which circuitclosure is offected (assuming the circuit to be intact elsewhere) and inthe other of which the circuit is opened. By means of my inventionsupplemental means for maintainingthe relative position of the memberswhen the circuit is opened need not be provided, since the contactportions ofthe connector then may perform this function. This feature ofmy invention enables me to maintain constant engagement between contactscarried by the relatively movable members whether the circuit be openedor closed; though I do not limit myself to this characte ilitic. 1 t .einvention also contemplates the prodiate vision of a simplifiedelectrical union between a binding screw or other terminal carried by aplug or other mounting of in sulatiug material, and a switching contactcarried by the plug. This feature of the inpart of the structure; andFigs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of component parts.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe different figures.

{23: 5, MICHIGE N, ASSIGINOR T0 DOUGLAS &, RUDD MANU- The structureincludes a cylindrical metallic shell 1 provided with bayonet slots 2.

at one end, there to afiord. means for the attachment of some circuitcontinuing device, which is shown as being a small incandescent lamp 3,whose filament L is provided with terminals 5 and 6 carried by the baseof the lamp, this base being herein termed a contact carrier. Pins 7project from the base of the lamp to constitute with the slots 2 bayonetcatches for maintaining the lamp and shell together.

The shell 1 is in axial alinement with a plug of insulating material 8,that is also herein termed a contact carrier, this plug being here shownas being removably held.

within one end of the shel The plug is centrally recessed'longitudinallyof the shell, one end of this recess being larger than the other toafford a shoulder 9. A cylindrical cutrent conducting contact 10 isreceived in th outer end of the recess, the base of this contact beingprovided with a flange ll clamped against the shoulder 9 by armg nut 9received in the larger end of the recess and there having threadedengagement with the plug 8, the contact 10 passing through the bore ofthe ring nut. The'outer end of the contact 10 is reduced to form ashoulder 12.. A plunger of insulating material 13 projects through theouter and contracted end of the bore of the contact 10, the base of theplunger being enlarged to limit the extent of its outward movement byengaging the contiguous shoulder 12. A coiled spring 14 is inclosedwithin the contact 10. The ends of this spring are seated within therecesses provided in theinner ends of the plunger 13 and plug 8,thespring being under such compression as to fforce the plunger 13outwardly when the ends of the shell 1 are not 'sufiiciently occupied bycircuit continuing,

elements. The outer end of the plunger 13 .is provided with a metalliccontact cap 15, the plunger 13 constituting the means by which thecontact 15 is carried by the contact carrier 8. This cap is out ofengagement with the contact element 10 when the plunger is placed in itsoutermost position by the spring'lt, as indicated in Fig. 1, but,Whi'chcap 0r circuit closer 15' is brought 4 tongue 10 which 80 theshell rable engagement therewith,

into engagement with the contact 10 when the circuit continuing elementsare fully within the ends of the shell. The circuitcloser l5 constitutesa current conducting contact that cooperates with the current conducting contact 10 and is adapted for sepawhile at the same timemaintaining constant engagement with the curre t conducting contact 5..

Contact IQ is pressed against terminal 17 by the ring nut 9, while themetallic shell 10" is provided with an insettin spring presses upon t eupper end'of the terminal 16. The spring tongue 10 thus constitutes animprovement upon the pin or screw connections hitherto existing betweenparts corresponding to the elements 10' and 16. The shell 1 thus conveyscurrent between the elements 10 andfi, the device being thus a singlepole connection, but to which the invention is not to be limited. 1

Generally it is not desirable to have facility for adjusting thelamp toin and out of circuit positions While mechanically interconnected withthe shell 1. I therefore arrange the plug 8 as illustrated, the plushown carrying the screw terminals 16, 17. Means are afforded wherebthis plug 8 may have two distinct positions with respect to whilecoupledtherewith, and that are spaced apart longitudinally of the shell. In theoutermost position of the plug 8 the spring 14 projects the plunger 13to its outermost POSltlOIl in which the circuit closer 15 is out ofengagement with the con tact 10, whereby the circuit is then opened.When the lug 8 is in its cap 15 is orced into engagement with thecontact '10 to close the circuit.

1 end of the contact 10 is des1rably longitudiin circuit, so that itsresiliency is not reduced. -The means which I preferably em- .plov fornal y of the structure resides in a.pair of bayonet pins or projections18, carried by sald member, and a pair of bayonet slots 19 in the lowerend of shell 1, and so formed 1 as to provide an inner pair of seats 20and i one pair of seats to the other.

an outer pair of seats 21, the two pairs of seats thus bein spaced apartlongitudinally of the shell. gVhen the projections 18 are received bythe inner seats 20 the circuit is closed, and whe received by the outerseats 21, the circuit is opened. The angular displacement of one pair ofseats from the other may be disregarded, slight angular displacementbeing desired only to permit of the ready transfer of the pins 18 fromThis advantage is secured, since the contact 5 may remainin engagementwith the contact 15 chanical union between 'wardly against their innerposition, the.

irrespective of the hold the parts in assembly.

To insure the retention of the projections 18 in the bayonet seats, saidseats are provided with horns 20', 21.

To insure the maintenance of the metheshell 1 and the 8 is removed, saidposition of the plug 8 to lamp3 when the plug shel and which press thebayonet pins 7 u seats and longitudinally of the shell 1. That is, thesprings 22 are disposed transversely of the shell, and may be flexedlongitudinally thereof, each of the sprin s being .connected at one endwith the shel and at the other end being free to exert pressure upon thepins 7. \Vhile I have herein shown and particularly described thepreferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limitedthereto, as changes may readily be made without departing from" thespirit of the invention.

' Having thus described clainilasnew and desire to Patent the following:g

1. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; a circuit terminalcarried by and entering the carrier; :1 contact carried upon theexterior of t e carrier; and an insetting spring connected with thecontact and pressing upon the circuit terminal.

2. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; a circuit terminalcarried by and entering the carrier; a contact carried 11 on theexterior of the carrier; and an insetti spring integrally formed withthe contact and pressing upon the circuit terminal.

A circuit connector including a contact carrier; two current conductingcontacts carried thereby; means for breaking engagement betweensaidcontacts; a second contact carrierfa third current conducting contactwhich is carried by the second conmy invention, I secure by Letters,tact carrier; and means whereby the t t ad usting the mem er 8 longitudengage one of the and force it into engagement with the other of thefirst aforesaid contacts.

at. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; two currentconducting contacts carried. thereby; means for breaking en gagementbetween said contacts; contact carrier;

and a shell for holding said contact carriers and enablin the contactcarriers to be so cause the third current conduct-in contact to engageone of (he first aforesai contacts and force it into engagement with theother of the first aforesaid contacts 5. A circuit connector including acontact carries strip springs 22 that are de-. s1rably integrally,formed with the shell,

relatively positioned as to the first aforesaid contacts against theforce riers may be relatively positioned toenable' the third currentconducting contact to engage one of the first aforesaid contacts andforce it into engagement with the other of ofsaid spring, said lattermeans also enthe first carrier.

abling the contact carriers to be held farther apart by the spring topermit the spring to separate the contacts carried by 6. A circuitconnector including a contact carrier; two current conducting contact-scarried thereby; aspring for effecting separation or said contacts;

' contact carrier; a third current conducting contact which is carried'by the. sec ondcontact carrier; and a shell for holding said contactcarriers and-enabling the con-- tact carriers to be so relativelypositioned as a second.

to cause the third current conducting contact to engage one of the firstaforesaid con tacts and force it into engagement with the other of thefirst aforesaid contacts against the force of said spring, said shellbeing constructed to cooperate with the spring also to hold the carriersfarther apart and to permit the spring to separate the contacts carriedby the first carrier.

7. A circuit connector including a'shell having a bayonet slot; acontact carrier provided with a projection for reception within the seatafforded by said slot; and a strip spring carried by 'the shell anddisposed transversely thereof, this'spring pressing upon the projectionlongitudinally of the shell tohold the projection in said seat.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of AugustA. D., 1914. I I

HARRY A. DO UGLAS.

Witnesses: I

HENRY C. Bowman, VILL M. Fosrnn.

